Strictly Craig's been Rumba-lled

TV show judge Craig Revel Horwood's immigration marriage scam exposed

By James Weatherup, 04/10/2008

STRICTLY Come Dancing's Australian judge Craig Revel Horwood LIED to immigration chiefs so he could stay in Britain, the News of the World can reveal.

He claimed he was happily married to a British woman when he applied to the Home Office for UK residency.

But a News of the World investigation has found he had already LEFT his wife Jane.

NO DENIAL: Jane at home yesterday

Horwood, who was dishing out his famous acid-tongued observations on the hit BBC show last night, was living with a gay partner while Jane helped him plot their divorce.

The astonishing deception came to light after we were shown damning documents which prove Horwood misled officials processing his visa.

And it could even lead to him being booted out of the country.

Three crucial letters are at the centre of the scam.

The first, from the Immigration And Nationality Department to Mr C Horwood dated April 24, 1991, tells him he may stay in the UK until April 23, 1992.

It goes on: "I am writing about your application to remain in the United Kingdom following your marriage.

"For this application to be granted, we will need to be satisfied that your marriage has not ended and that you both still intend living permanently with each other as husband and wife.

"If you provide a statement to this effect, signed by you both, this will assist us in considering your application.

"If, when you make your further application you are no longer living with your spouse, your continued stay in this country will be normally subject to your qualifying for further leave in some other capacity under Immigration Rules."

In the second bombshell letter-dated March 16, 1992, seven months AFTER he left Jane-Horwood replies to immigration officials: "My wife and I have been married and living together since our marriage on August 20, 1990. We intend living permanently with each other as husband and wife.

"My wife, Jane Horwood, confirms and supports my application and plans to live with me permanently. I have been in full-time employment during this period.

"If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us."

Divorce

But Horwood had already left Jane in August 1991 after just a year of marriage, moving out of their one-bed flat in Crouch End, north London, and later set up home with gay lover Lloyd Rooney.

The deceit is confirmed by Jane in a letter she wrote to Horwood a few weeks later on April 22, 1992.

In a clear indication that they were planning a divorce after he received confirmation of permission to stay full-time, she writes: "Dear Craig. I am not sure if you will have heard from the Home Office yet confirming your residency, but meantime I have been reading up on divorce.

"My employment situation is getting rather serious now and I feel I definitely need the option to sign on and at least get some help paying the mortgage.

"Yes, things are that bad! So, the sooner we can get the ball rolling the better.

"I think it best if you act as Petitioner and I as Respondent (it's easiest to go for adultery, no names have to be given but I need to provide you with a confession statement.)"

Jane then tells Horwood how to get a divorce petition at Somerset House in London's Strand and adds that he must state after getting her confession that he "finds it intolerable to live with me due to this."

At the end of the letter she adds: "It all seems very straightforward and since neither of us are contesting the divorce there should be no problem."

Horwood started his relationship with former Redcoat Rooney just months after getting hitched to Jane when he was 25.

In his new autobiography All Balls And Glitter, Horwood blurs key dates in his life to disguise his immigration scam.

He tried to cover his tracks when he wrote that he'd had only had a 13-year relationship with Rooney. If that time frame had been accurate, it would have allowed Horwood to start his fling after two years of marriage to Jane.

But the TV star tripped himself up in an interview he gave last year when he said he had been in a 15-year relationship which ended in 2005.

ALL DRESSED UP: Horwood in drag

Horwood, who admits in the book he became a rent boy in Australia at 17 and worked as a drag queen in bars and clubs, also claims he discovered Jane was having an affair with a mutual friend nicknamed Lightning just before their second wedding anniversary in 1992.

He wrote: "Despite the perfect wedding the marriage, as it turned out, was not quite so flawless.

"It didn't last, mainly because our sex life diminished somewhat and I suppose that led to the inevitable scenario-Jane slept with someone else.

"I discovered the affair just before our two year anniversary. We had a friend whom we called Lightning, on account of his not being very quick off the mark, and I found out that they were sleeping together. I moved out and he moved in."

A former friend of Horwood told us last night: "Craig is definitely pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. It was meant to be a warts-and-all biography but he has tinkered with the times and dates on crucial stuff.

"He even misled his ghost writer so the book was economical with the truth.

"The fact is, he was in a gay relationship with Lloyd and his marriage never stood a chance.

"Craig's dates do not add up, clearly. I'm sure the Home Office are going to want to get to the bottom of all this."

When we asked ex-wife Jane about the letter she wrote to Horwood outlining how they could get a divorce, she said: "Oh God, that was ages ago." Jane, who now lives in Cambridge and runs a web design company, added: "I think there are probably some misunderstandings here."

When we asked Horwood about the evidence that he had misled immigration chiefs, he replied: "No comment."

Last night the Home Office was preparing to launch an inquiry into his application.

A spokesman said: "Any cases where someone has alleged to have obtained leave to remain through deception which are brought to our attention will be fully investigated."

Your comments

This article has 45 comments

u are mean

By hbvhdfbgv hydfgdyu.. Posted November 2 2008 at 11:45 AM.

Walking through any town centre you come across the REAL illegal immigrants (and Brits) who contribute nothing to this country!
Craig is a wonderful personality who speaks his mind but in the main makes fair comment. He has become a household name who entertains us and does earn an honest living - get real and leave him alone!

By P.. Posted October 19 2008 at 9:15 PM.

I really enjoy Craig as he certaintly knows what
dancing is about and most of the time his marks
correspond with mine.

By Joy Ashall.. Posted October 16 2008 at 10:53 PM.

NIL POINT CRAIG !!!!!!!!!!

By asd.. Posted October 11 2008 at 10:21 PM.

All illegals are ILLEGAL whether they pay tax or not. A child molester is a child molester, a thief is a thief, a mugger is a mugger should we take pity on them if THEY pays taxes.
Only today I heard a woman saying her car was pranged by an illegal immigrant, driving a car with no insurance, no tax, no m.o.t and to cap it all he said the car didnt belong to him. SHE CANN'T CLAIM A PENNY
The law is a Farse

By ste53.. Posted October 11 2008 at 2:39 PM.

Craig's punishment should be to do Strictly Come Dancing in full drag, Oh! sorry Arleen is already doing that.

By Mincing Mary.. Posted October 6 2008 at 5:06 PM.

Mmmmmmmmm some very interesting comments, lets tar and feather Craig and deport him back to Australia. Strange times when we have a legal system and support organisations that fight to keep religious extremists in this country who are a threat to us all, but a guy who's more likely to be arrested for using a hair dryer without due course and attention you guys want to make an example of, come on UK we moan about misuse of taxes, to pursue this benefits no one. The only thing I don't understand is why he would sooner live in England rather than Australia. Just leave him be.

By Mike.. Posted October 6 2008 at 6:22 AM.

looking at the comments the overwhelming impression is that there are alot of curtain twitchers bemoaning the situation - as many here say he is working and minds his own business, let him get on with it...there are far more worthy causes to get worked up about nowadays.

By mike .. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:39 PM.

Another Cracking scoop for NOTW ! The law must apply to everyone who scams the Immigration system, Telly Celeb or not…time for those blundering Bureaucrats to show that they can pull their finger out; Craig scores a Big “Zero” on the visa front, deport him now.

By Andy.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:47 PM.

Phil, 4:55PM - Dictionary is spelt with an 'i' too - you really should check before criticising others' spelling and grammar!

By Geoff.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:05 PM.

I think the BBC should end his contract immediately, They and other shows Like the "Wright Stuff" should not be party to employing illegals.

He should be arrested by Immigration staff and deported.

By Michael .. Posted October 5 2008 at 9:31 PM.

Only people who are on benefiots who didnt go to school are complaining , most illegals pay tax

By Phil.. Posted October 5 2008 at 4:55 PM.

I seemed to have spotted something rather disturbing in some of the letters posted, I'm assuming you are all British, did you go to school? If so Britain has failed you, due to the fact there are so many spelling errors. Pick up a dictonary. "IMMIGRANT" not Immigrent, immerants. Diane credit crunch is not to blame its just a new word for economic breakdown and it will soon be a thing of the past..and you should be put into DETENTION after school not Detension.

By Dual.. Posted October 5 2008 at 3:30 PM.

I believe there are alot of shallow minden people in this forum like shirley who doesn't know anything about those countries he is talking about.

It a high time for everyone to wake and start smelling the coffee coz you know what !! That good life you are talking about may soon be out reach for many normal brits and not so normal brits.

What people should do is to gather the facts before they spit it out.

By james.. Posted October 5 2008 at 1:00 PM.

I find it amazing that people seem so blaise about the crime committed by this man and that many appear to think that because he is famous and pays taxes it is ok for him to break the law. This case is one of deception and fraud - these are serious crimes. Moreover, are we really saying that those guilty of deception and fraud are desirable would-be members of our society. This guy and his ex-wife has woken up every day for years knowing of this fraud - they should both be punished. That means, I'm afraid, he should be deported.

By Simon.. Posted October 5 2008 at 12:55 PM.

Who cares whether Craig is illegal immigrant or not? He pays tax, he is entertaining on TV. Why not go after the scroungers who come over to get council houses and handouts, or those who work illegally, or those "families" who are more interested in getting benefits for the number of kids they have, than the kids welfare.

By Phil.. Posted October 5 2008 at 12:20 PM.

There is alot of illegal immigrant who also work and pay their taxes (Which they cant claim back by the way), Craig shouldnt be treated like his above those people, You go to factories and you would see thousands across the country working for much less than craig...so people stop the double-standards because his a celebrity- He needs to be investigated.

By Richard.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:52 AM.

Kick him in the wallet..then kick him out..as a lot of famouse people have shady backgrounds..name & shame them..then take their wallets off them..the more they get the more they want..let them live off £39.per week..

By Ernie.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:35 AM.

I see a lot small minded Brits on this board, In the UK the biggest dole scroungers i saw were lazy indigenes getting pregnant, getting council flats and lazing around. Marriage scams like every other scam is here to stay, so used to it afterall the border agency are not paid to sit on their lazy backsides.

By Gabe.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:33 AM.

Oi Shirley, what about the single mothers I see at the local shopping centre, about 15 and pregnant or pushing prams - and they're British!!
When Greggs is open you can't move for the benefit claimers.

Brits are doing enough to destroy their own country. One man who's working AND paying taxes (and can't claim a penny as he's not a Brit National, just a resident) is not the cause of the credit crunch you ignorant moron.

By Fiona.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:22 AM.

ADD THIS to the other 5 million or so ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS living in UK.

By stugold.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:23 AM.

The question is of manipulation of law, not whether as English speaking person he should have been allowed in irrespective. This stupid analogy can be taken to extreme by nationalist idiots, who would then claim that only criminals who are not "indigenous" should be punished.

By the way most of the EU migrants are hard working plumbers, builder, office workers and most who sponge on the state are native brits who've just gotten lazy from years of benefits and poor education

By Freya Sampson.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:14 AM.

Everybody does it, whether Brits in the USA, Australia, Canada or vice versa. The human mind is always willing to do things that are beneficial, People marry for love, for immigration reasons, for money, for security, for choosing the right genes for their kids, for affordability. It would never stop.

By Gabriel.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:14 AM.

An illegal immigrant is an illegal immigrant regardless who it is he should be kicked out like all the rest who shouldnt be here weather he pays taxes or not he made a false claim to stay here so send him back if it was over their they would send people back a.s.ap why cant we just shut our borders and say enough is enough

By kev.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:08 AM.

Judging by the marjority othe posts here, I take it you guys are all in favour of all the illegal immigrants who work in factories, care homes...etc, as long as they pay taxes, literally meaning anyone can sneak into this country as long as they get a job and pay taxes..... unbelievable!!!

By Quincy.. Posted October 5 2008 at 11:10 AM.

Well i guess this is a forum for those who open their mouths without knowing the facts.A criminal is a criminal irrespective of their social status or colour.He is as much a criminal as those who were arrested by the border agency in the restaurants.As for shirley who says people should be sterilised in the developing countries, i guess i will not be surprised to learn that people like you are the brains behind the BNP. How dare you say people should be sterilised?When we went to these developing countries to colonise them, did they invite us?When we went to Irak to secure oil, did they invite us?The list is long and inexaustible.What goes around comes around.

By Ed.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:45 AM.

The principle of immigration fraud is wrong no matter who does it - but let's not forget that as an Australian he would have had full freedom to move between the countries until we suddenly decided in 1972 to throw our lot in with Europe, rather than Canada, Australia and NZ. We used to be part of a commonwealth and I'd rather have have freedom of movement with those three countries, even though they are further away than Europe. Our law now allows millions of Europeans with whom I don't share a language to come here and demand full NHS treatment.

Sorry, but I just can't get worked up about one Australian who should never have been put in the position of having to lie in the first place. Not only is it fair enough that he works and pays his taxes, but he has a right to be here as far as I'm concerned. He's one of our own.

By Valerie.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:28 AM.

Does that mean Shirley, that we Brits can still buy our holiday homes in the sunny Med, but all "immegrants ", as you put it, not be allowed here...?
Whats the credit crunch and Enoch Powell got to do with this story..?
WEIRD....

By Dave.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:20 AM.

totally agree with mark boys comments Graig isnt harming anyone and is someone that has wanted to improve his own life and it really is of no difference to anyone else that he is A gay B was married C a British citizen

By marion cunningham.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:19 AM.

Send him back to where he came from!
You can't have one rule for famous illegal immigrants and another for the not so famous; at the end of the day they've both broken the law so both should be punished.
What good does he actually do for British society anyway???

By Jim Hall.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:00 AM.

At least Craig works and pays taxes and contributes to our society.. there are loads of others who think about blowing up our country everyday and dont get kicked out despite being a clear danger to society.

By Penelope.. Posted October 5 2008 at 10:01 AM.

Here we go one rule for one and another for the middle class OH sorry that is not true we allow everyone to stay. yes he pays taxes. SO DO I He is no better than a shop lifter he is a criminal and must return to his own country.

By Trevor.. Posted October 5 2008 at 9:51 AM.

For crying out loud who cares. Also if he does get into trouble then so should the ex wife!

I wonder if she is becoming interested in the financial side of things.

By Mark Boy.. Posted October 5 2008 at 9:35 AM.

For god sake leave Craig alone. He works, pays his taxes and the work he's done and doing is brillant. What about the people that are let into the country who do not speak the language and have no intentions to learn. The ones that do not work and live off the state and do not want to work. This country is the laughing stock of the world for who we let in. Good on you, Craig and keep up the good work. You are a credit to your profession.

By David.. Posted October 5 2008 at 9:32 AM.

So? He's not the first and who cares! At least he pays his taxes and isn't dangerous. Craig should stay!

By Bexster.. Posted October 5 2008 at 9:20 AM.

Absolutely right, too many immigrants in the country who have far worse intentions than just staying on their minds, to worry about someone like Craig, who in my opinion is not a worry to our immigration.

These wedding scams have been going on for years.

Need to stop arranged marriages of people who have never met, and not allow visitors to enroll on courses once here to get extension visas, other countries don't allow visitor or student visa holders to get married, if it was genuine enough then return home and marry there then apply to enter, like the USA

By Graham.. Posted October 5 2008 at 8:49 AM.

Yeah, big deal. He's hardly a drain on UK society is he. Lets chuck him and allow fanatics to stay !!!

By Jonathan Smart.. Posted October 5 2008 at 8:46 AM.

No one will do anything about it. The bully boys at the border agency prefer to pick on easy targets like labourers and kitchen assistants. Much easier.

By Simon .. Posted October 5 2008 at 8:07 AM.

How many more Aussies do we need coming here taking our jobs and our homes?
Do the decent thing - send him to Eastbourne!!!

By Norman Pratt.. Posted October 5 2008 at 8:10 AM.

totally agree with previous comment. rather him that countless (repeat countless) scroungers, thieves, muggers, the government has let in with it's total open door policy. hi labour, why dont you go further and advertise you will give all such scroungers £1000 each if they come and live here.
dont you realise we are filled to the top in this small country. i give up.

By harry.. Posted October 5 2008 at 8:15 AM.

Rather him stay than the hundreds of thousands of useless scroungers NuLabour has invited in.

By John.. Posted October 5 2008 at 5:38 AM.

Why is everyone so worried about Craig at least he pays his taxes and he is not spongeing of the state and draining the system. They should give him a medal as he is one of the few that does pay his way.

By diane.. Posted October 5 2008 at 4:43 AM.

we feel that the government need to put a stop on all immegrants comming into the country due to the credit crunch.why is thought thst if you go to any country you have abide bythere rules yet england is not england anymore as we have to fit in with them in our country.when thye should abide by our rules, our law .they should not have our human rights law for starters.we should not have any dentension centres take them back to where they came from .
it also seams starnge we can find money for these other countries yet they dont out anything into ours government.
i jst feel that in these other countries they should be sterilised to stop all these kids being born.as they know they dont have the money nor food etc so why have them. so untill they start doing whta they should be doing then stop having kids .i would like all countries stop dumping there own make of problems on us.
it is not our problem but theres they created let them sort it out.
we should not have to keep bailing everyone else out lets jst gte rid of the government labour as they are not doing anything for us except tax us so we end up like the other countries all pennyless no home.etc.
enoch powell was right .

By shirley.. Posted October 5 2008 at 3:08 AM.

THis reminds me of Ruby Wax, that loudmouth American, who admitted marrying a Brit - her first marriage - solely in order to stay on in the U.K. The Home Office must have read her confession in the press but seems to have done nothing about it. Why?

By oli.. Posted October 5 2008 at 2:51 AM.

IM sorry to say it but who cares there is far more illegal immerants in the country to worry about Craig who is at least entertaining to watch on a Saturday night!! at least he is working and earning an honest living

By frances.. Posted October 5 2008 at 12:25 AM.

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